Verizon will formally launch its new, faster, 4G wireless data network in Portland on July 21, the company said this morning.

The network, using a new "4G" wireless standard called Long Term Evolution (LTE), will reach from Ridgefield, Wash. to Wilsonville, and from Troutdale to Forest Grove.

Verizon said customers with phones equipped for LTE should expect downloads between 5 and 12 megabits per second, comparable to standard DSL connections that phone companies offer. Upload speeds will be between 2 and 5 mbps.

The company had no word on when other parts of Oregon will get 4G service, but the company said it will roll out its LTE network in several other markets on July 21 -- including Seattle's northern and southern suburbs.

On Monday, Verizon confirmed that it's moving to tiered pricing next month for its wireless data plans. Instead of unlimited data usage for a set fee -- typically $30 a month -- Verizon will charge subscribers extra if they use more than a set amount of data. The company hasn't announced specifics, but it's been widely reported that customers will pay extra if they use more than 2 megabytes gigabytes a month.

The change may not affect subscribers who already have an unlimited plan.

AT&T moved to tiered pricing last year, but allowed existing subscribers to retain their unlimited plans.